Collapsible stand for bumper jacks



Jan. 10, 1950 A. M. KROM'ER 2,493,978

COLLAPSIBLE STAND FOR BUMPER JACKS Filed May 51, 1946 Patented Jan. 10,1950 UNITED STATES PATENT O FFI'CE 2,493,978 YCGLLA-PSIBLE STAND FORBUMPER JACKS Arthur Kromer, ltiinneapol-is Minni Application May 31,1946,"'Se1'-ial No.673,403'

My invention relates to improvements in lifting jacks, and moreparticularly to thattype of lifting jack involving a relatively longpost-like supporting member having a lifting head mounted forlongitudinal traveling movements thereon; this type ofliftingjack beingmost prevalent in the automotive industry, where they are generallyreferred to as bumper jacks for the reason that they are designed toengage the bumper of an automobile to lift the same.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the present invention toprovide in connection with lifting jack structures of the kinddescribed, a collapsible standard therefor.

The so-called bumper type of jacks have the advantage over the old-stylejack which was customarily inserted under the axle of the vehicle, inthat it is much more easily placed in and removed from operative liftingrelation to the vehicle; but have the disadvantage of being relativelyvery long and heretofore have been hazardous to use due to the absenceof a firm and wide-based support to brace the same against tippingmovements. In accordance with the present invention, I provide acollapsible standard for jacks of this type which forms a very wide andvery firm base of support for the jack when in operative position, andwhich occupies a minimum of space when collapsed. Furthermore, myimproved standard is so constructed that it may be moved from operativeto inoperative position with a minimum of effort on the part of theoperator.

The above and other highly important objects and advantages of theinvention will be made apparent from the following specification, claimand appended drawings.

In the drawings, like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a bumper jack incorporating myinvention, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, butillustrating a different position of the parts thereof, some parts beingbroken away; and v Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewtaken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings hereof, the standard of my invention is shown as beingapplied to a conventional type of bumper jack comprising a postlikesupporting member or element I having a semi-spherical bottom portion 2,and a lifting head 3 mounted for longitudinal traveling move- 1 Claim.(01. zap-16c) I ments on the upper and intermediate portions of thepest-likemember 1. Internal details of the head 3 are not shown, sinceit is conventional and may take various different forms. However,attention is called to' the fact that the *conven tional lifting head 3is provided with the usual J hook-like lifting element 4 for engagementwith an automobile bumper or the like, and is also provided with theusual pivoted operating lever or handle 5.

A base member 6, shown as being circular in cross-section and having aplurality of radiallyprojecting circumferentially-spaced ears 1, has acentral semi-spherical socket 8 in its upper surface 9 which is of asize to snugly receive the semispherical bottom portion 2 of supportingmember l. A flange or collar I0 is rigidly secured by means of bolts Hto the supporting post I at a point remote from the end 2 thereof, butbelow the upper portion on which the head 3 is mounted for longitudinalmovements. Collar I 0 also has a plurality of radially-projectingcircumferentially-spaced ears [2, each one of which is in verticalalignment with one of the ears Ton base a member 6.

A plurality of identical upper arms l3, and a plurality of lower arms Mare shown as bein pivotally connected together by pivot pins l5, whichextend through bifurcated end I6 of arm 14 and depending tongues I! ofarms I3. The opposite ends I8 of arms l4 are bifurcated to receive ears1 projecting from base member 6 and are pivotally secured thereto bymeans of pivot pins I9. The upper ends of arms l3 are also bifurcated asindicated at 20 to receive the ears l2, which project from collar I0 andare pivotally connected thereto by means of pivot pins 2|. Arms l3,adjacent their upper ends 20, are provided with inwardly-projecting stoplugs 22, the purpose of which will hereinafter become apparent.

Operation It should be obvious that, because of the pivotal connectionsof cooperating arms [3 and M with each other and of said arms to thecollar l0 and base member 6, that the said cooperating arms will beextended, under the action of gravity, from the load supportingposition, shown in Fig. 1, to the position shown in Fig. 2. by merelylifting upwardly upon the supporting member I. The position indicated inFig. 2 is ideal for storage and the like. It is also important to notethat when the arms l3 and M are so elongated, under the action ofgravity, as indicated in Fig. 2, that the stop lugs 22 will engage thecollar Hi just prior to the point where the arms I3 and I4 becomealigned with each other, or, in other words, just prior to theirreaching dead center. Therefore, when the jack structure is once againplaced upon the ground, the arms [3 and I4 again, under the action ofgravity, will collapse to the position shown in Fig. 1, in whichposition the semispherical lower end 2 of supporting post I, will fitinto the socket 8 of base member 6 where it will be retained againstlateral movements.

Here it is important to note that the plane of the axis of the pivotalconnections 2| between the upper ends of the arms l3 and the collar 10are so spaced from the axis of the pivotal connections IQ of the lowerarms [4 and the base member 6 that the lower arms M will be extendedperpendicular to the supporting post I when the lower end 2 thereof isseated in thersocket '8 of the base 6.

What I claim is:v

A standard for jacks which comprises an up-- right supporting posthaving a rounded lower end, a collar anchored to the post substantiallyabove said lower end, a separate base member having an 25 1 494 773upwardly opening socket for freely receiving and lapsing of the armscarrying the base member beyond the end of the post and for seating ofthe base member on the rounded lower end of the post when the standardis in operative position.

ARTHUR M. KROMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 624,662 Leedy May 9, 1899 EndersMay 20, 1924 2,221,203 Sandberg Nov. 12, 1940

